What will James do now?
Attorneys representing President Donald Trump are urging New York Attorney General Letitia James to dismiss the civil fraud case against him, his family, and his businesses, asserting that ending the case would serve the nation’s greater good. In a letter to James, Trump’s attorney D. John Sauer argued that the continued legal actions have only exacerbated political divisions in the country. He called on James to vacate the judgment and dismiss all claims, emphasizing that these legal proceedings are damaging to the nation as a whole.
Sauer, who previously served as the Solicitor General in the Trump administration, framed the case as emblematic of the partisan division plaguing the United States. He pointed to Trump’s resounding election victory and his calls for national unity as evidence that the time has come for political factions to work together for the benefit of the country. “The ongoing legal assault against President Trump and his family, which has dragged on through multiple election cycles, has deepened the divisions in our nation,” Sauer wrote. “We believe that putting an end to this case will help heal some of those wounds.”
The lawsuit, initiated by James, seeks to penalize Trump for allegedly inflating the values of his real estate holdings in order to secure loans and insurance deals. Trump’s legal team contends that these accusations are unfounded and that all of the transactions in question were carried out transparently, with clear disclaimers given to sophisticated financial institutions. According to Sauer, Trump’s business partners had every opportunity to perform due diligence and were not deceived by any of the financial statements in question.
Further, Sauer argued that there is no actual harm to any party involved in the case. No victims or losses have been demonstrated, and the loans and insurance premiums in question were all paid in full and on time. Trump’s legal team highlighted that the companies involved in these deals actually profited greatly, with some of them making millions of dollars in gains.
Sauer also warned that the case is having a “chilling” effect on businesses in New York, with many companies fleeing the state due to the unpredictable and excessive legal environment. He stressed that President Trump, as one of New York’s most successful real estate developers, played a crucial role in revitalizing the city’s economy, from rebuilding the skyline to creating thousands of jobs. The lawsuit, according to Trump’s team, serves no public purpose and only seeks to punish a successful businessman for political reasons.
In his letter, Sauer invoked the words of President Abraham Lincoln, who during the Civil War called for national unity and healing. Sauer pointed to Lincoln’s October 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation, where he urged Americans to set aside their bitter divisions and seek peace and reconciliation. “In this spirit, we ask you to dismiss this case and put an end to the legal battles that have only further divided our country,” Sauer wrote.
Trump’s legal challenges, particularly in New York, are part of a broader pattern of litigation that his supporters view as politically motivated. With multiple legal victories in other cases, including the dismissal of charges by Special Counsel Jack Smith, Trump’s team has expressed confidence that this case will ultimately be overturned. The defense argues that the case has no merit and that it is part of a broader campaign to undermine Trump’s credibility and political influence.
Trump has vowed to fight the case to the highest courts if necessary, saying he will not back down from what he sees as a politically charged prosecution. As his legal team continues to push back against what they view as an unjust attack on the former president, many Republicans see these ongoing cases as part of a larger effort to stifle Trump’s political movement and prevent him from serving a second term in office.